Prime Minister Tony Abbott says recovering bodies from the Malaysia Airlines crash site is Australia's top priority, but pro-Russian rebels are creating a "chaotic" environment that is making the grim task difficult.

Flight MH17 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile above eastern Ukraine on Friday, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

Mr Abbott has told the ABC's Insiders program his first priority is to recover the bodies of the 36 Australian citizens and residents whose lives were "snuffed out" in the attack.

"The grim truth is that not all of the bodies will be intact. I hate to say it, this is a horrible business," he said.

"Making sure that a proper identification process has been put in place is a lengthy lengthy process."

The pro-Russian rebels, who want independence for Ukraine's eastern Donbass region where most people speak Russian, say they have not touched the site, but at least some of their number at the scene said some bodies had been taken away in trucks.

Mr Abbott says it is unclear who is removing bodies from the site.

"The difficulty is that the site is chaotic. It's absolutely chaotic," he told Insiders.

"There have been at least two attempts now by investigators to get to the site but the first attempt was ... stopped by gunfire and I believe that the second attempt has also been significantly hampered.

"The kinds of things that would normally be happening in an air crash site are simply not happening and this just makes it absolutely imperative that Australia do everything we can to recover the bodies to ensure that the site is secured, a proper investigation is done and then justice is secured.

"While my first priority at the moment is the recovery of the bodies and the treatment of the dead with dignity, it is very important that we have a thorough investigation and it's critical that those responsible for this heinous crime are brought to justice."

International monitors have now been allowed to visit the crash site, though gunmen still stopped them approaching some of the wreckage.

'They could be your kids': Abbott

Mr Abbott says it is an outrageous and distressing situation.

"We can't let our emotions cloud our judgment but nevertheless these are wrenching times and there would hardly be an Australian who hasn't been emotionally touched by what we've seen, what we've felt over the last 48 hours or so," he said.

"You look at the faces of the dead and they're your neighbours, they're your friends, they could be your kids because let's face it, we're a people who like to travel.

There are 36 people who call Australia home who have been snuffed out.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott

"And my own daughters flew on MH17 some months ago on their way home from Europe, so this is a tragedy that touches us deeply."

Mr Abbott says he plans to organise a National Commemorative Service and Day of Mourning once the victims' families have had time to comprehend the horrific event.

He says he is yet to talk to the families of those killed in the disaster, but consular officials have made intensive contact with every family group.

"We are working with all of them to ensure that their situation is made as good as it can be under these awful circumstances and those teams have made clear to every family group that should they want a call from me or from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop we will call," he said.

"[Ms Bishop] is there to lead our work at the UN. She's there to give focus to our work at the UN and so that the world knows just how seriously Australia is taking this and there are 36 people who call Australia home who have been snuffed out," Mr Abbott said.

Australia wants tougher action from the Security Council, believing a press statement calling for an independent international investigation is not enough.

It wants a binding resolution from members and is drafting the text to put to the Security Council for a vote. It would need Russia's support.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will also travel to the US this week for high-level talks on a range of issues, including the Malaysia Airlines tragedy.

Mr Shorten is attending the Australian-American Leadership Dialogue, and will meet US vice-president Joe Biden and deputy state secretary William Burns.

While he is there, Mr Shorten will be briefed by Australia's representatives at the UN about efforts to secure an investigation into the MH17 crash.

Russia's foreign minister told the US secretary of state he agreed all evidence from the downed plane, including flight recorders, should be made available to investigators and experts should be given proper access to the site.

"I was shocked at the pictures of utterly disrespectful behaviour at this tragic spot," he said, referring to allegations that bodies of the passengers were being dragged about and allowed to rot at the scene.

Lawyers to pursue avenues for compensation

Meanwhile, aviation lawyers say there may be opportunities for the families of victims to pursue compensation.

Lawyer Jerry Skinner, who represented families of the victims of the Lockerbie plane disaster in the late 1980s, told ABC News 24 the crash site needs to be properly secured.

"I would think that the security of the wreckage at the beginning should be handled by a group of international investigators who probably have less of an interest in the outcome of the investigation or any proceedings that take place after it," he said.